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Despite hardly speaking the language, the New Zealander, who has won dozens of Scrabble tournaments in English, was competing in the Spanish-language Scrabble world championship. He won the title.

, and Good Oil Staff

December 17, 2024 . 6:30 AM

1 min read

Nigel Richards could barely exchange pleasantries in Spanish when he arrived at a Scrabble tournament in Spain last month, his competitors recalled.

Despite hardly speaking the language, the New Zealander, who has won dozens of Scrabble tournaments in English, was competing in the Spanish-language Scrabble world championship. Some of his competitors, who were fluent, doubted his chances, said Horacio Moavro, treasurer of the International Federation of Scrabble in Spanish.

“He shut our mouths completely,” Moavro told The Washington Post.

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